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Senate hears bill to protect statewide boat-access decal funds and preserve federal match eligibility
Summary
Senate Bill 51 would clarify that the $5 statewide boat decal fee must be used solely for the statewide public boat access program, protecting the account used to provide match for federal Sport Fish Restoration funds and reducing future bonding needs, department officials said.
Senate Transportation took testimony on Senate Bill 51, which would add statutory language specifying that funds collected through the $5 boat decal fee be used solely for the statewide public boat access program.
Sponsor Senator David Waters said the decal fund provides critical match dollars that the Department of Fish and Game uses to leverage federal Sport Fish Restoration Act funds. He said ensuring those dollars are not repurposed preserves the department's ability to secure federal allocations and reduces the need for bonding, which otherwise increases interest and capital costs for boat-access projects.
A Department of Fish and Game representative (Garrett) supported the clarification and said the $5 decal charge dates to 1993; adjusted for inflation the fee buys far less today. Garrett added protecting the dedicated fund helps reduce future borrowing and allows the agency to advance projects without added interest expense.
Committee members asked about a referenced project at Mount Sunapee State Park; the sponsor and Fish and Game staff said the bill preserves existing statutory language and that project-specific bonding or costs would be handled within the department’s capital planning.
No committee vote was recorded at the hearing.
